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Sunday, August 23, 2015

As much as I hate to think about summer coming to an end, it's about time to start making those back-to-school purchases. While school starts for us on September 8th, in many other areas kids are already back to school. Like many people, we start each school year with fresh lunch bags and backpacks (unless the old ones are still clean and in good shape).

This year I did a lot of research to find eco-friendly and stylish options for lunch bags and backpacks that would suit our family. My daughter is 10 so she still likes the cute and fun options, but she also requires a certain level of "maturity" in her choices. My son is 13 so this in-denial mom has to be careful she doesn't go with styles that are too "little boy" for him.

Here are some of the goodies my family will be carrying this year:

1. Lug's Pedals Lunch Tote in cranberry red keeps food cool in its insulated interior. Store utensils and napkins in the exterior pocket. So important for a lunch bag - the material is fully wipeable and water-repellent for easy cleanup of spills. This pretty lunch tote comes in several colours and works for girls and women alike.

2. Available at Bentley, this Roxy Pineapple Print Backpack has the "cool factor" that a preteen or teen looks for. It's also big enough to carry all her stuff. This backpack has a main zippered compartment, an inside pocket and a front zippered pocket. The straps are padded for comfort. Plus, let's face it, it's just really cute! And it's on sale right now. Bonus.

3. This adorable Beatrix New York Katarina the Frog Lunch Box brings some cheer to your school day. It's insulated to keep food fresh. It's made with heavy-duty nylon and it's machine washable for easy cleanup (yay!). There's a name tag on the back so this little beauty can find its way back to its owner. Very important for kids - Beatrix New York lunch boxes are tested PVC-, phthalate-, lead- and BPA-free. Find Beatrix New York's stylish lunch boxes and backpacks in Canada or in the U.S.

4. Another versatile lunch bag from Lug, the Tackle Box Lunch Tote in camo olive is suitable for anyone from a young boy to a grown man (or a girl who likes camo, of course!). It's a good size for a nice big lunch - it holds a standard sandwich container plus more small containers. The foil lining keeps your lunch hot or cold. Enjoy easy access to the contents with the wide-mouth opening. There's a detachable shoulder strap too.

Back-to-school time can be stressful for the whole family, so it's always nice to be well prepared with all the items the kids (and my teacher-husband) need to start the school year off right. If lunch bags, backpacks and supplies are stylish and fun, that's all the better. It can ease the back-to-school stresses a bit by making things more exciting. (Just be sure to discard or donate some of your old backpacks and lunch bags to keep your house organized and running smoothly!)

In addition to getting these stylish back-to-school essentials, we have also created new desk areas in both of our kids' bedrooms. I have posts coming up about those spaces. Of course, we need to get around to doing some clothes shopping as well. The first-day-of-school outfit is crucial, right?

Have you done any back-to-school shopping? (Or fall shopping for those in a household where nobody's going back to school.) What did you buy?

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Leslie:I am a retired teacher, so I don't require back to school things, but I had a fun shopping trip for my son and daughter-in-law (both teachers). It is a lot more fun to star a school year when one has fresh things with which to begin.leslieannstevenson@yahoo.com

Annabelle would love that backpack! I am the mean mom who is making her wait until middle school starts next year for a new one! haha! We have gotten all of our back to school shopping done as of last week. We have to be early about it since both my husband and I go back to teaching at the same time, too. My whole house empties 9/9 when we all go back. It's a hot mess around here this time of year.

Yes we are pretty well done all our back to school shopping, & the grand total so far is around $750 which is ridiculous. 4 pairs of shoes, coats, backpacks, supplies, clothes... ugh it's so crazy at this time of year!

Hi! I'm Joann, a Toronto, Canada freelance writer and mother of two kids and two beagle-mix rescue pups. Inspiration is all around us, but how often do we miss it as we speed through our days crossing things off our lists? Grab a cup of tea and join me in exploring the art in everyday life, including diy, decor, books and lots of easy-to-make, family-friendly vegan food.